Isen workshop: adventures in batch production (or not...)

Some of the nicest condors going.

do you have any 'test' bikes available?

one story is to be able to 'make' a frame.
another story is if that frame is any good ...
I am of course far from suggesting that yours are not and its just a generic statement about building frames.

I sniff inference - "he's the shit" don't worry.

??

A track record and cult following define this guy and Caren. I'd get one in a heartbeat.

I personally admire what Caren is doing and believe that her bikes are great - people who bought them seem to confirm that! Does not mean that I would not want to try riding one before parting with hard earned couple of £k

this is why I attempted - unsuccessfully it seems - to distance myself from anything that would suggest I was criticising. I never rode neither frame / bike - how would I know...

You can't ride a custom frame before you buy it, it isn't built yet. You just trust the builder since you picked them based on their previous work. Same goes here really. These are handmade "custom" frames, just in set sizes and colourways

Agreed - to some degree - they are not exactly 'custom' - same tubing / same or similar geometry these are produced in limited quantity but still ... and so on.
You are absolutely right that if you picked them you did it based on other people recommendation or similar.

Doesnt change the fact that I would love have a go and ride one before ordering ;-)

Yes rather than custom, I meant hand built really

Yes we do, Simply pay a £1750 non-refundable deposit and you can keep the frame at the end if you like it!

All jokes aside, I understand what you mean and yes it is a big wedge of money. There is normally a couple of staff isens in the shop at any time, so PM me and we can probably sort out you riding one of them.

thank you - if it comes to that Ill definitely ask for it :)

Does Isen workshop have the capacity in the future to do re-sprays of framesets?

Have found on mine the paint is quite delicate and has come off in a number of spots on the stays exposing the primer.

Yes it can/does. PM me, but by the sounds of things if it is on the stays we can touch it in very easily.

Thanks. Will get in touch!

First milk

Took the ISEN for the Rapha nonsense ride today.
Didn't miss a beat.
Mudguards FTW.

Side note- Hutchinson Sector 28s are the single worst tyres I've ever ridden.

Why? Mine have been fine, and came highly recommended by some audax superstars.

Multiple easy cuts, and I've barely ridden the fucking things.
That and handling in the wet has been piss-poor- I've lost the back-end round Regent's in the wet, today was actually laughable.

I've not had good experiences with them either tbh. Easily cut, not pleasant in the wet. I much prefer g ones over them, although other than the cutting side of things, tyre characteristics are obviously personal preference.

Pics or it didn't happen ;)

It was misery!

What's the aesthetically pleasing stem angle? 6˚, 10˚?

I've gone for an 8deg superzero.

Ta!

So tasty;) and looks like my size :)